(Motorsport-Total.com) – Williams driver Carlos Sainz was warned after the first Free Practice for the Belgian Grand Prix. After all, according to the official reasoning, the four-time Grand Prix winner crossed the white line at the entrance to the pit lane. But what actually happened?
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About 35 minutes before the end of FP1, Sainz wanted to turn into the pit lane. But in his onboard footage, it is clearly visible that the Williams driver shortly after the first safety car line changes his mind, turns left, and returns to the track.
According to the so-called “Race Director’s Event Notes,” Sainz was already in the pit lane at that time and should not have crossed the white line between the track and the pit lane.
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Williams team principal James Vowles explains the incident after FP1 on Sky Sports F1 as follows: “It was due to our communication,” he said.
“Carlos had decided to go into the pits. However, the battery […] was almost empty. Actually, it was at zero, which happens at the top of the [previous] hill. That’s why we had to do another lap to recharge it.”
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“And when the engineer communicated that, there was a slight delay of about 1.5 seconds. At the moment the [message] arrived, Carlos was already at the entrance to the pit lane. So we should have stayed at the entrance to the pit lane and driven through.”
According to the judgment reasoning, Sainz also confirmed this explanation to the race stewards. In doing so, the Williams driver not only admits that he clearly violated the prescribed rule but also that by deciding to return to the track, he wanted to avoid a sporting disadvantage.
Accordingly, although it was not a dangerous situation, a warning was issued. Therefore, there is no penalty point for the Williams driver. In the current list, Sainz, like his teammate Alexander Albon, has two penalty points.
This incident therefore has no consequences for the further course of the race weekend. Incidentally, this is the first warning for Sainz in the 2026 season.
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